title: Artemisia annua extracts, artemisinin and 1,8-cineole, prevent fruit infestation by a major, cosmopolitan pest of apples.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Extracts of Artemisia annua (L.) (Asteraceae) and artemisinins are used for treatment of malaria, parasitic infections and have potent anticancer properties in cell lines. Eucalyptus oil and 1,8-cineole have antimicrobial, immune-stimulatory, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic, and spasmolytic effects. Codling moth, Cydia pomonella, (L.) (Tortricidae), is a major cosmopolitan pest of the apple, potentially causing damage translating to 40 billion US dollars per year, globally. Currently used control measures are either hazardous to agricultural workers and harmful to environment, or ineffective. The potential of plant-derived semiochemicals for codling moth control is heavily understudied.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the potential of A. annua extracts, and two chemicals that this plant contains, artemisinin and 1,8-cineole, for preventing apple feeding and infestation by neonate Cydia pomonella larvae.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied effects of A. annua extracts, artemisinin and 1,8-cineole on apple infestation by neonate codling moth larvae using fruit choice assay in laboratory experiments. Preference of fruit treated with test solutions versus fruit treated with solvent was recorded and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Crude A. annua extracts prevented fruit feeding at 1, 3, and 10 mg/ml. Artemisinin had feeding deterrent effects at 10 and 30 mg/ml, and 1,8-cineole at 100 and 300 mg/ml.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A. annua contains chemicals that prevent apple infestation by codling moth neonates. Artemisinin and 1,8-cineole are among them, but there are other, polar constituents of A. annua, which have similar effects. There is a potential of using our findings in codling moth control and production of codling moth-resistant apples.
authors.affiliation: William H. Darr School of Agriculture, Missouri State University, Mountain Grove, MO, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Durden
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sellars
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cowell
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pszczolkowski
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D031172:Artemisia annua / Q000737:chemistry*; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000077591:Eucalyptol; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000187:drug effects*; D027845:Malus / Q000187:drug effects*; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009036:Moths / Q000187:drug effects*; D010571:Pest Control / Q000379:methods*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D037621:Artemisinins; D003511:Cyclohexanols; D039821:Monoterpenes; D010936:Plant Extracts; C031327:artemisinin; D000077591:Eucalyptol